12-Month MacBook Repair Warranty — 4× More Than Most Bucharest Shops

Why 12 months and not 3 months like most — the direct answer

On the Bucharest market, the standard warranty for independent MacBook repair shops is 3 months. Some offer even less (30 days on labor, „verbal" on the part). We offer 12 months on the complete repair — part + labor + recalibration, written on the fiscal invoice. Why?

📅 We've been repairing Apple since 2014

We've been repairing Apple since 2014. Same location, verifiable ANAF history, continuous Apple repair activity since 2014. 12 years of verifiable history (verifiable in the ANAF registry, Google Reviews, Instagram, Facebook. We\'re not a 2-year-old brand still finding its identity — we\'re the identity built over 12 years.

📍 Fixed location, verifiable address

Str. Aristotel Pappia 40, Sector 1, Bucharest. Our address is on Google Maps, in Street View, in every search engine. If we ever move to a larger location, you\'ll know — the new address will appear on the website, on Google Maps, on all platforms. We don\'t vanish overnight.

🔄 Zero rebranding, zero business pivots

We will not shut down the Apple repair shop in 3 months and reopen in 6 months as „washing machine repair, on the market since 1992." We are what we\'ve been from the start: a specialized Apple repair shop. Our only expertise, our only business object. If you come back in 8 months with a problem on your repaired MacBook — you\'ll find us right here, doing exactly what we did last time.

⚙️ Repair quality justifies the term

12 months isn\'t reckless confidence — it\'s statistical evaluation of our own repairs. We work with a microscope on any board intervention, calibrate with Repair Assistant, test with Apple Diagnostics before delivery. Our actual re-intervention rate in the first 12 months: ~5-8%. We cover that from the warranty fund included in the price, without calling you to pay again.

Translated simply: we offer 12 months because we can and because we\'re here to honor them. Shops that offer only 3 months do so for one of these reasons: either they\'re not confident in their repair quality, or they\'re not certain they\'ll still be on the market in months 4-12, or they use cheap parts that fail exactly after their term expires. On any of these variants — the reciprocal question „why only 3 months?" is legitimate.

Concrete test you can run: search Google for „radical service bucuresti" and verify the oldest reviews — you\'ll see the first ones date from 2015-2016. Now search the ANAF registry for CUI Radical Service Apple Devices — you\'ll see the registration date. Then look for other Apple repair shops in Bucharest with the same name 10+ years old. You\'ll be surprised how few there are.

Part 1 — What the 12-month warranty covers

The warranty applies for any defect directly linked to the performed repair or to the part we replaced, within 12 months from the fiscal invoice issuance. Four concrete categories:

✓ 1

Defect directly linked to the performed repair

Concrete example: we replaced the battery, after 4 months the MacBook no longer powers on battery even though it charges. The battery connector loosened or BMS prematurely failed. 12-month warranty covers free re-intervention: return with invoice, we open the device, diagnose, repair.

Typical: Re-intervention same day or within 24h.

✓ 2

Early failure of the replaced part

Example: 6 months after keyboard replacement, several keys start responding inconsistently. Inherent part defect, not result of wear. Covers: free replacement with another part, plus labor.

Typical: Part replacement + labor with no additional cost to customer.

✓ 3

Adjacent defect caused by our intervention

Rare but honest: if during board repair (microsoldering) we inadvertently touched another component that fails within 12 months, warranty covers that defect too. Ethical standard: if causation is verifiable (BoardView + report), we repair free.

Typical: Free diagnostic + free repair if we are the cause.

✓ 4

Recalibration after intervention

For display: if True Tone or brightness sensor becomes inconsistent. For trackpad: if force touch is no longer correctly calibrated. For battery: if SMC needs reset. All free in the first 12 months.

Typical: Recalibration in 30-60 minutes, no cost.

Part 2 — What the warranty does NOT cover (honesty)

Warranty is not total insurance. Covers defects caused by us or by the part we installed, not subsequent external events. Here are the 6 explicitly excluded situations:

✕ 1

Physical drop after repair

MacBook dropped off desk, screen broken again, lid bent — even if it occurs 2 weeks after repair. Cause is external, unrelated to our intervention. We can verify with UV lamp, microscopes and mechanical aspect if physical impact exists.

How we recognize: Cracked display glass, bent trackpad cover, impact marks on body.

✕ 2

Liquid (water, coffee, juice, alcohol)

Corrosion caused by liquids is instantly identifiable upon opening: Liquid Contact Indicator (LCI) triggered, green oxidation on contacts, evaporation marks on board. External cause — even if liquid reached MacBook after keyboard replacement.

How we recognize: Oxidation on PMIC, green-blue contacts, characteristic smell.

✕ 3

Mains overvoltage from electrical network

Lightning in area, network instability, non-original charger with deformed specs. Typically fails charging IC, ISL9239 or input MOSFETs. Preventive recommendation: surge protector on MacBook, original or MFi-certified charger.

How we recognize: Charging IC burned in 1-3 months after repair without apparent cause.

✕ 4

Third-party intervention after our repair

If another shop opened the MacBook after us (forced screw marks, broken gasket, connector reseated crooked), our warranty is automatically invalidated. Verifiable through: our screw fingerprint, internal label, photos at delivery.

How we recognize: Pentalobe 0.8 steps scratched differently, display gasket coarsely redone.

✕ 5

Normal component wear

Battery Health naturally decreases with charge cycles — not defect. Keyboard with „shiny" keys after years of intense use — aesthetic wear. Trackpad with diminished glide — natural surface wear.

How we recognize: Battery Health 85% after 12 months of intensive use = normal.

✕ 6

Change of device initial conditions

macOS update producing hardware incompatibilities (rare but real — see macOS Tahoe 26.4 with MacBook M2/M3). Firmware modification altering part behavior. Apple T2 chip blacklisting after component swap.

How we recognize: Major update altering SMC or battery management behavior.

Honesty: in the borderline zone (defect that could be caused by us or by external factor), interpretation is in favor of the customer. Not because we\'re generous, but because our diagnostic is good enough to know with certainty — and uncertainty is our responsibility, not yours.

Part 3 — Complete 5-step procedure

If a defect appears on the repair performed at us in the first 12 months, here\'s exactly what to do:

1

Identify the fiscal invoice
⏱ 5 minutes

Search the invoice in ANAF SPV (Private Virtual Space) under your CNP/CUI, or have it saved on email. Invoice includes unique series + number, issuance date, intervention description, warranty term explicitly written.
2

Call or WhatsApp us
⏱ 5-10 minutes

Phone: +40 739 795 800. WhatsApp: same number. Briefly describe: what repair, when, what problem appeared. We ask for invoice number to verify intervention history and what we delivered exactly.
3

Bring MacBook to workshop
⏱ Appointment same day or next day

Workshop: Str. Aristotel Pappia 40, Sector 1, Bucharest. Recommended to backup first (Time Machine or cloud) — even though data is safe in 90%+ of interventions. Hand over MacBook with invoice.
4

Diagnostic and causation verification
⏱ 30-90 minutes

We verify: (a) if defect is within warranty scope (see list above); (b) if device has not suffered external causes meanwhile (liquid, drop, third-party intervention). Free diagnostic for in-warranty cases.
5

Free re-intervention
⏱ 24h-48h for most interventions

If defect is confirmed in warranty: we repair free (part + labor covered). If defect is caused by external factor: we tell you openly, you get transparent estimate for new intervention with option to accept or not.

Part 4 — Warranty comparison: Apple official vs AppleCare+ vs us vs backstreet

The 12-month term is relatively generous for the Romanian independent service market. Here\'s the structured comparison:

Aspect	Apple official	AppleCare+	Radical Service	Backstreet shop
Labor warranty term	90 days (Apple Limited Warranty)	12 months (separate AppleCare+)	12 months standard, included in price	30-90 days, frequently verbal
Part warranty term	90 days (Service Parts)	12 months with AppleCare+	12 months standard	Varies 0-90 days, no document
Written documentation	Yes, in Apple Repair Receipt	Yes, via AppleCare+	Yes, RO e-Factura invoice + explicit term	Often decorative receipt or verbal
Free re-intervention in term	Yes, if diagnostic confirms causation	Yes, with accidental damage covered	Yes, no diagnostic cost	Often separate diagnostic cost
Legal verifiability	High (direct Apple company)	High (Apple contract)	High (RO e-Factura, consumer protection, CUI verifiable on ANAF)	Weak to none
Subsequent access to history	Yes, via checkcoverage.apple.com	Yes, via Apple ID account	Yes, via case serial/invoice	Rare, depends on shop

Observations: AppleCare+ remains the most comprehensive protection if your device is still eligible — covers even accidental damage with deductible. Our warranty does NOT replace AppleCare+, it applies specifically to repairs we performed. For a MacBook without AppleCare+ and out of initial Apple warranty (1 year), our 12-month warranty is typically the only available post-repair protection.

Part 5 — What we concretely offer beyond „simple" 12-month warranty

Written warranty on invoice, not „verbal"

Exact term (12 months), clear scope (labor + part), enumerated exclusions. Appears textually on fiscal invoice reported in RO e-Factura. In case of dispute: legally valid evidence for consumer protection or court.

Unified warranty, not fragmented

Many shops offer „90 days on part, 30 days on labor, 14 days on configuration". At us: 12 months complete, regardless of whether defect involves part, labor or calibration. Simpler for you — no need to track multiple terms.

Re-intervention without paid diagnostic

Warranty diagnostic is free. At another shop you pay 100-200 RON just for them to verify if defect is in warranty. At us: our time is our time, if you come in warranty, you don't pay for investigation.

Honesty when defect is NOT in warranty

If diagnostic confirms external cause (liquid, drop, overvoltage), we show you physically the marks: microscope photo, triggered LCI indicator, visible oxidation. Your decision if you want to continue with new estimate — we don't pressure you.

Accessible repair history

All interventions on your device remain in system under board serial/case serial. If you return in 8 months with something else, we see what we did previously, what parts we installed, what verifications we performed. Useful for technical continuity.

Warranty transferable on second-hand sale

If you sell MacBook during warranty period, buyer can come with your invoice and benefit from warranty. „With Radical Service invoice" becomes verifiable selling argument — second-hand buyers have implicit protection.

Part 6 — Essential terms glossary

Four terms that often appear in warranty discussion and deserve clarification:

12-month labor warranty

Period during which the workshop is responsible — free of charge — for redoing the intervention if it fails as a direct result of the work performed (imperfect bonding, improperly seated connector, incomplete calibration). Starts on fiscal invoice issuance date and is independent of the part manufacturer's warranty.

Part manufacturer warranty

Period during which the part supplier (OEM, refurbished or aftermarket) covers inherent part defects. Typically ranges from 90 days to 12 months depending on part type and supplier. At Radical Service, this warranty is absorbed into the unified 12-month warranty — the customer sees one warranty, regardless of supplier structure.

RO e-Factura fiscal invoice

Legally valid fiscal document, automatically reported in the ANAF RO e-Factura system, containing: unique series + number, issuer CUI, beneficiary CNP/CUI, intervention description, value with VAT detailed, warranty term explicitly written. Appears in the customer's ANAF Private Virtual Space within 24-48h.

Battery Health natural degradation

Maximum capacity of a Li-Ion battery naturally decreases with charge/discharge cycles. Apple considers 80% capacity at 1000 cycles (MacBook M1+) or 500 cycles (MacBook Intel) as specification, NOT defect. Outside the scope of repair warranty.

FAQ

Why do you offer 12 months when most shops offer only 3 months?

Three concrete reasons. (1) Brand stability: Radical Service has been repairing Apple since 2014, at the same location (Str. Aristotel Pappia 40, Sector 1), with the same ANAF-registered CUI. 12 years of continuous presence, verifiable in any public registry. We can guarantee 12 months because we're certain we'll still be here in 12 months — we don't rebrand every 3 months to become „washing machine repair since 1992". (2) Real repair quality: our re-intervention rate in the first 12 months is ~5-8% (measured internally). Shops that offer only 3 months do so because their actual rate is probably 2-3× higher, making a longer warranty economically unviable. (3) Commercial honesty: 3 months is exactly the interval after which most post-repair defects start to appear (between months 4-8). By offering only 3 months, the shop transfers risk to you. By offering 12 months, the risk stays with us — as it should.

Why not 24 or 36 months? Wouldn't that be even better?

Two factors. Technical: Li-Ion batteries and aftermarket/OEM refurbished components have real degradation after 12-18 months, regardless of installation quality — any warranty over 12 months would mean covering natural part wear, which would unbalance repair cost for all customers. Economic: warranty fund is calculated for real re-interventions (~5-8% in first 12 months), and extension to 24 months would double this fund and implicitly the initial repair price. 12 months is the reasonable maximum that doesn't transform warranty into expensive hidden insurance buried in the part price.

What happens if I sell MacBook after 6 months?

Warranty continues for current owner. Buyer can come with your original invoice and benefits from the same 12-month warranty you had, until term expiration. Practical recommendation: at sale, send buyer the electronic invoice by email — becomes unambiguous proof.

Do I have to maintain Battery Health above a certain threshold for warranty?

No for non-battery repairs. For battery replacement: warranty covers battery and BMS defects (premature swelling, no longer charges, suddenly reduced cycle count), NOT natural capacity degradation. Battery Health 85% after 12 months of intensive use (laptop used 8+ hours daily) is specification, not defect.

If I update macOS and something stops working, is it in warranty?

Depends on nature. macOS software bug affecting repaired hardware (e.g.: Sonoma 14.x with Touch ID after replacement): NOT in warranty, it's Apple bug. Hardware that fails at first stress test of new macOS (e.g.: old SSD failing at reorganized APFS indexing): may be in warranty if part doesn't correspond to 12-month interval from our repair. Free diagnostic tells us with certainty.

Do AppleCare+ and your warranty overlap?

Don't exclude each other. If device has active AppleCare+ and defect is via AppleCare+ (accidental damage, etc.), use AppleCare+. But AppleCare+ does NOT cover parts installed by us in previous repair (Apple doesn't repair devices with „third-party parts"). Our warranty specifically covers parts we installed. Practically: AppleCare+ for device unrepaired by us, our warranty for everything we touched.

Is warranty valid if you open MacBook again?

Yes. Our warranty presumes we intervened. If you return in warranty, we reopen without problems — no „warranty void if opened" sticker. If someone else opened in between (verifiable through our fingerprint on screws and connectors), warranty is invalidated only for affected area, not for completely separate repairs.

How do you prove defect is caused by your intervention vs external cause?

Diagnostic with microscope, thermal camera and BoardView determines causation with reasonable certainty. Concrete examples: if PMIC is burned with thermal hot spot and no adjacent oxidation = possible intrinsic defect, in warranty. If PMIC is burned with adjacent green oxidation = liquid, NOT in warranty. Triggered LCI indicator = liquid certain. Uniformly delaminated BGA pads = overheating caused by us, in warranty. All verifications are visual and verifiable — we show you exactly what we see.

What does „12 months from invoice issuance" mean?

Term runs from invoice issuance day (date on invoice, visible in ANAF SPV) until same day of next year. Concrete example: invoice issued March 15, 2026 = warranty valid until March 15, 2027 inclusive. No „pause" periods or extensions — strict calendar term, calculated from actual intervention day.

Can I use warranty if MacBook was sent by courier initially?

Yes. Fiscal invoice is intervention proof, regardless of delivery method. For warranty re-intervention, you can choose: (a) come personally to workshop, or (b) send again by courier (courier-out at your cost, courier-return at our cost for in-warranty cases). Practical recommendation: package with same original bubble wrap and put invoice/printscreen inside.

12-month warranty for MacBook repairs — 4× more than most Bucharest shops offer